There were an estimated 10.3 million cases of measles worldwide in 2023, a 20% increase from 2022, according to new estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Inadequate immunization coverage globally is driving the surge in cases. Measles is preventable with two doses of measles vaccine; yet more than 22…

In an inspiring display of global unity and commitment, the symposium “Bridging the East & West: Prioritising Global Health, Wellbeing, Education, and Research” was successfully held at the prestigious Royal Society of Medicine (RSM) in London, in commemoration of World Mental Health Day (WMHD) 2024. The event brought together leading experts from different parts of Pakistan and the UK, to…

A provincial stakeholder consultation workshop was organised by Aga Khan Health Service, Pakistan for the Strengthening, Nutrition and Immunisation in Pakistan (SNIP) programme. Provincial Minister, Sindh Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho speaking on the occasion commended the partnership, emphasising the crucial role AKDN has played during times of need, from the COVID-19 crisis to new emerging infection testing. The support and…

Sindh Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) has introduced PSO fuel cards for vaccinators, making Sindh the first province in Pakistan to empower its frontline workers with this innovative support mechanism. The initiative was inaugurated at the EPI Directorate with Minister of Health and Population Welfare, Sindh Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho and Secretary of Health Rehan Iqbal Baloch. Speaking on the…

In a significant achievement for the medical community of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), the Mirpur Journal of Medical Sciences (MJMS) has been officially approved and indexed by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan in category “Y.” This milestone marks MJMS as the first medical journal from AJK to achieve such recognition, demonstrating its commitment to advancing medical knowledge…

New initiative aims to support over one million pregnant women, mothers and children in particularly marginalised and underserved areas of Pakistan. The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) has announced the launch of a new $7.2 million nutrition and immunisation programme in Pakistan. The programme aims to support over one million mothers and children in the most marginalised areas of three provinces.…

Dr. Usman Waheed, IMDC Islamabad In recent years, the phenomenon of ‘paper mills’ has gained significant attention within the academic and scientific communities globally. A paper mill refers to an organization or individual producing research papers, often fabricated or plagiarized, for authors in exchange for financial benefits. This troubling practice has infiltrated various regions, including Pakistan, leading to a surge…

High-Q Pharmaceuticals launches Crescina Transdermic HFSC Complete Treatment and Hair Fall Solution at a Ceremony held recently at a local hotel in Karachi. The Ceremony was attended by Experts from Lahore including Prof. Javed Akram, Prof. Aziz Ur Rehman, Prof. Aftab Mohsin and Prof. Al Farid ul Zafar, Chief Executive Officer, Atif Iqbal and founder of High-Q Pharmaceuticals. Crescina is…

Pakistan Society of Internal Medicine (PSIM) organized a get-together meeting to align upcoming chapter activities and signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Ceremony with Aga Khan University and Pinnacle Biotech at a local hotel in Karachi. The MoU signing with Aga Khan University aimed to develop evidence-based guidelines for disease prevention whereas another MoU with Pinnacle Biotech inked to collaborate…

Taking a significant step towards women’s health in Sindh, the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) Sindh in collaboration with UNICEF Pakistan, World Health Organisation, JHPIEGO organized an advocacy seminar on Introduction of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine recently at a local hotel in Karachi. Health Minister Sindh, Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho was the Chief Guest while Secretary Health, Rehan Iqbal Baloch…